Ga. Toddler Critically Injured During SWAT Raid

A Georgia SWAT team acting on a search warrant threw a grenade into a Habersham County home in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, critically burning 19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavanh, reports WSBTV.

The toddler’s mother, Alecia Phonesavanh, said that the grenade landed in her son’s crib on his pillow and exploded in his face.

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“He’s in the burn unit. We go up to see him and his whole face is ripped open. He has a big cut on his chest,” Phonesavanh said. “He’s only 19 months old. He didn’t do anything.”

Cornelia Police Chief Rick Darby confirmed that the raid took place at the home just before 3 a.m. He said a multijurisdictional drug unit issued a warrant and organized the SWAT operation.

Deputies said they bought drugs from the house and came back with a no-knock warrant to arrest a man known to have drugs and weapons.

“Everyone’s sleeping. There’s a loud bang and a bright light,” Phonesavanh said. “The cops threw that grenade in the door without looking first and it landed right in the playpen and exploded on his pillow right in his face.”

Chief Darby said that the unit is “broken up” about it.

The family does not have medical insurance and have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for baby Bounkham’s treatment.